SCIAF supporters have helped to provide food for thousands of people affected by the floods in Pakistan (photo: Caritas)

Six months on from the devastating floods that hit Pakistan last July, SCIAF is still providing much need support to many survivors remain homeless and in need of emergency aid and long term support.

Lorraine Currie, SCIAF Head of International Programmes, said:

“There continues to be widespread disruption in Pakistan sixth months after the terrible floods struck the country. The flood waters have caused unprecedented damage to homes, roads, public buildings, communications systems, transport and farm land. Millions of people have had their livelihoods wiped out as 2.6 million acres of crop land has been affected.

“SCIAF is working with its sister agency Trocaire and local partners. Our focus has been on delivering food, health, nutrition and safe drinking water to isolated villages and people living in makeshift settlements.

“Many people are now returning to their homes so transitional assistance is being scaled up to help people recover their livelihoods. Winter is quickly descending on all flood-affected areas and expanded support such as shelter, blankets and bedding is critical. The harsh winter weather is expected to last until March.

“The donations that SCIAF received from the Scottish public continue to provide a vital life-line to people who fled their homes following last July’s flooding. These generous donations will continue to provide support including help for people to return homes and re-establish their crops and livelihoods.”

SCIAF has helped to provide:

SCIAF partner evacuated approximately 20,000 at risk individuals, including men, women, boys and girls from flood prone areas
6,125 people received ongoing ration packs including high energy biscuits for children
2,650 people received ongoing cooked meals whilst living in the temporary camps
Hygiene kits were also distributed to 530 families
Non food items including basic cooking utensils were distributed
Activities focused on extremely vulnerable individuals including children, elderly and sick people.
Health and hygiene sessions conducted to prevent the spread of disease and basic cleaning and sanitation equipment provided in six camps.

If you would like to make a donation to help SCIAF’s ongoing work in Pakistan, please visit www.sciaf.org.uk/donate or call 0141 354 5555.

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Case studies:

Dad Mohammad, Jaffrabad District, Balochistan

“We heard over the radio that there had been a breach in the river at Torri and that our homes would soon be under water. We began to gather some belongings and to find transport to help us get away from the flooding.”

Dad Mohammad is in a camp for displaced persons in District Jamshoro, Sindh province. Dad lived with his extended family in the district of Jaffrabad in Balochistan roughly 300 Km away.

“In Jaffrabad we were small farmers. We never had a lot but before the flood we were not in debt and usually harvested a good crop of rice in the summer and wheat in the winter. Now our rice crop for this year is destroyed and I don’t know if we will be able to go back in time to plant wheat for this season. We have also spent most of our savings paying for transport to get our family far away from the floods. My family and I fear for the future.”

Dad is happy that SCIAF and Trocaire’s partner PFF is supporting him and his extended family with basic food rations for the next month whilst he and his family decide what they will do next.

“When the road to Jaffrabad reopens we will think of going home then. We don’t know when that will be but hope that it will be opened next month so that we can go back and see what damage has been done to our homes.”

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Muhammad Nawaz, 40 and Hazaar Khatoon, 33

Hazaar Khatoon with her new born twins, who were born during the Pakistan floods (photo: Trocraire)

“We are glad that our children are safe now. I worried for my wife and my unborn children when we were forced to move from our home to the city quickly when the floods arrived. I am thankful for the help of the camp staff and (SCIAF and Trocaire’s partner) SPARC for supporting us during this difficult time for us” says Muhammad Nawaz in a camp for flood survivors in Shikarpur district.

Muhammad Nawaz’s wife Hazaar has just given birth to twins, a beautiful boy and girl. The proud parents had not yet named the children. They were only six days old and they had yet to have their naming ceremony. They were thankful for the support which SCIAF, Trócaire, SPARC and the other organisations have provided to them.

“People in the camp have been very helpful to us and our nine children during this time. They have given us money, have helped to care for our children and have comforted my wife who is still very tired. (SCIAF and Trocaire partner) SPARC have given us water coolers and cooked food and this has helped us a lot.”

Muhammad and his wife hope to get back to their home which is nearby on the outskirts of Shikarpur. They fear that their home will be uninhabitable but feel that with the support of their family and community that they will be able to rebuild a life for themselves once the flood water resides.

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Alamkh Akatoon and daughter Samaa

“We are happy to be living here with our community. We are thankful for the food we have received and hope to move back to our homes as soon as the flood water has receded.” Says Alamkh who sits with her baby daughter Samaa.

“We managed to grab a lot of our belongings and move to safe ground before the flooding from the Indus ruined our home. I got Samaa’s medicine and I am grateful for that. I worry that I will find it difficult to get more medicine for Samma now the Basic Health Unit that I used to go to with her is underwater.”

Alamkh has eight children in all and her family, like most of the people in the areas near to the Indus River, made their living from farming. Like most, they grew cotton or rice during the summer season and wheat during winter. She is hopeful for the future of her daughter and the rest of her children.

“We are lucky that all are children are safe and healthy, I hope that we can make sure that they have opportunities in life that we never had. “